NYR2324 - Playoffs Matchup R1G4 - DL

RANGERS RUNDOWN

  • The New York Rangers look to advance in the playoffs when they face the Capitals in DC in Game 4 of the First Round series on Sunday night (8:00 PM ET - TV: MSG Network, TBS - Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM).
  • The Blueshirts have a 3-0 lead in a series for the sixth time in franchise history (2007 CQF vs. ATL, 1994 CQF vs. NYI, 1994 CSF vs. WSH, 1972 SF vs. CHI, 1950 SF vs. MTL).
  • Through three games, New York has 11 goals from nine different goal scorers. Thirteen of the 18 skaters to dress in the first three games have recorded at least one point. The Rangers are one of four teams with nine different goal scorers and one of five teams that have eight players with 2+ points thus far in the playoffs this year.
  • The Rangers have 30 comeback wins, which is their second-most in a single regular season and playoffs combined (31 in 2021-22). They are the ninth team in the last 30 years to record 30 comeback wins (regular season & playoffs combined), joining the 2005-06 Hurricanes (33), 2021-22 Panthers (32), 2021-22 Avalanche (32), 2021-22 Rangers (31), 2021- 22 Lightning (30), 2015-16 Capitals (30), 2014-15 Ducks (30) and 2008-09 Penguins (30).
  • New York is the third Presidents’ Trophy winner in the last ten years to win each of their first three games of the playoffs. The others: Washington (3-0 in 2016) and Colorado (6-0-0 in 2021).
  • On the road in the regular season, the Blueshirts had a 25-12-4 record for 54 points, the fifth time in team history they had 25 or plus road wins in a year. Their 25 road wins ranked tied for third in the NHL.
  • The Rangers finished the regular season with a 55-23-4 record for 114 points, finishing first place in the NHL standings for the fifth time in franchise history, following 2014-15, 1993-94, 1991-92 and 1941-42.
  • The Blueshirts won the Metro Division and secured their eighth division title in franchise history (Others: 1926–27, 1931– 32, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1993–94, 2011–12, 2014–15). New York set the franchise record for most wins (55) and points (114).
  • During the regular season, the Rangers were 2-2-0 against the Capitals, with both teams winning their home games. In the four games, Adam Fox, Artemi Panarin and K’Andre Miller led the team with three points.
  • This is the 10th time the Rangers and Capitals are meeting in the playoffs (1986, 1990, 1991, 1994, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2024) with the Blueshirts having a 5-4 edge in the previous nine series’, including the last three.
  • This is the sixth time in the past 20 years that the Rangers and Capitals have met the postseason. The only other teams to face off at least five times in that span are the Rangers and Penguins (5x) and the Senators and Penguins (5x).
  • The Rangers recorded a 26.4 power play percentage in the regular season, the second best mark in franchise history (1977-78) and third best in the NHL. With a 84.5 clip, the Blueshirts finished with the third highest penalty kill percentage in the NHL.
  • Peter Laviolette (NYI, CAR, PHI, NSH, WSH & NYR) is the first head coach in NHL history to appear in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with six different franchises. His 154 games coached in the playoffs are the most among active NHL coaches and this will be the 14th playoff year for him.

RANGERS AND CAPITALS CONNECTIONS

  • Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren and Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren are brothers. They are the 36th set of brothers to play against each other in the playoffs and only the fourth pair in which one is a goalie and the other a skater - Rangers defenseman Erik Gustafsson played in 61 games for the Capitals in 2022-23, recording seven goals and 31 assists for 38 points and a plus-9 rating.
  • Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette coached the Capitals from 2020-21 to 2022-23, making the playoffs in two of three seasons.
  • Capitals forward Sonny Milano was born in Massapequa, NY.
  • Rangers associate coach Phil Housley played parts of two seasons for the Capitals (1996-97 – 1997-98).

SERIES RECAP

GAME 3

When the series turned to DC, the Rangers earned their third win of the series with strong play on special teams. For a second consecutive game, the Rangers potted a shorthanded goal. It marked just the fourth time in Rangers history they have notched a shorthanded goal in consecutive playoff games (since officially tracked in 1933-34). The others: 4 GP in 1979, 3 GP in 1990 and 2 GP in 1940. The Rangers became the third team on record to score a shorthanded game-winning goal in consecutive contests in the playoffs. The others: Philadelphia (Game 7 of DF to Game 1 of 1989 CF) and Toronto (Game 7 of SF to Game 1 of 1964 SCF).

GAME 2

The Rangers beat the Capitals 4-3 on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, overcoming an early 1-0 deficit. The Blueshirts scored multiple power-play goals AND a shorthanded goal in a playoff game for the first time since Game 2 of the 1995 CQF vs. QUE. Mika Zibanejad scored his seventh career playoff power-play goal and Jack Roslovic also scored on the man advantage for his first career postseason marker. Peter Laviolette coached in his 1,668th game (regular season and playoffs), surpassing John Tortorella for the eighth most in NHL history. It marked his 80th career playoff win.

GAME 1

The Rangers took Game 1 of the First Round series, 4-1, on Sunday afternoon at MSG. The Rangers scored three goals in
a span of 2:06 in the second period, the third-fastest three goals in a playoff game in franchise history behind 0:38 in Game 3 of the 1986 Division Semifinals and 1:02 in Game 6 of the 1996 Conference Quarterfinals. Matt Rempe opened the scoring for the Blueshirts. He became the first Rangers player to score a goal in his first career playoff game since Matt Gilroy in Game 1 of the 2011 Conference Quarterfinals (also against Washington).

KREIDING INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS

Chris Kreider’s 67 playoff points ranks tied with Rod Gilbert for the third most.

In Game 1, Kreider played in his 108th playoff game, surpassing Marc Staal for the second most among Rangers skaters. Dan Girardi leads all skaters in franchise history with 122 postseason contests.

Kreider is in his 10th playoff year with the Rangers, tying numerous players for the second most in the franchise history.

With 42 goals, Kreider is the Rangers’ all-time leader in playoff goals and his totals are tied for the eighth most in the NHL since 2012. He also is the franchise leader in playoff power play goals (17) and game-winning goals (11).

During the regular season, Kreider scored 39 goals and added an additional 36 assists for 75 points. This season, Kreider changed the Rangers record books:

  •  Scored his 300th career goal, becoming the third player in franchise history to reach the feat (Rod Gilbert - 406, Jean Ratelle - 336).
  • Surpassed Rod Gilbert (108) for the second most power play goals in franchise history.
  • Played in his 800th career game on Mar. 16, becoming the 10th skater in franchise history to reach the number
  • Surpassed Adam Graves for the third most goals in Rangers history (281)
  • Surpassed Adam Graves for the 10th most points in team history (508)
  • Recorded his 500th career point
  • Surpassed Camille Henry for the fourth most road goals in franchise history (137)
  • Became the fifth Ranger to tally 100 career power play goals
  • Recorded his 166th career goal at MSG (regular season and playoffs) to surpass Rod Gilbert for the most in the building’s history

MIKA’S MISSION

Mika Zibanejad has multiple points in back-to-back games and 14 multi-point playoff games in his Rangers career.

In Game 2, Mika Zibanejad scored his seventh career playoff power-play goal with the Rangers and moved into a tie with Ron Greschner for seventh place on the franchise’s all-time list.

He has the third most points per game (0.98) among Rangers skaters who have played 25 or more playoff games.

In the regular season, Zibanejad notched 40 assists in a season for the third consecutive year and 25 goals for the sixth time in his career in 2023-24.

He had double-digit power play goals (12) for a seventh straight season. The only other player that has reached 10-plus power play goals in the last seven seasons is Steven Stamkos.

BREAD WINNER

Artemi Panarin has 121 points (50G-71A) in the regular season and postseason combined, tied for the third-most points by a Rangers player.

Panarin (60 GP) is appearing in the postseason for the eighth time in nine seasons and sits three points shy of 50 in his playoff career. He can join Martin St. Louis (47 GP), Adam Oates (48 GP), Steve Duchesne (57 GP), Joe Mullen (57 GP) and Tim Kerr (58 GP) as the sixth undrafted player in the past 35 years (since 1989) to register 50 career playoff points in 60 contests or fewer.

In the regular season, Panarin tallied a career-high 49 goals, and 71 assists for a career-high 120 points in 82 games this season. His point total was the second most for a Rangers skater in a single season (Jaromir Jagr – 123 points in 2005-06) and the fourth highest in the NHL this year.

On the road in the 82-game slate, Panarin notched 60 points, the second most in the NHL, and 27 goals - the third most in the league.

He notched a point in 67 of his 82 games this year, establishing the franchise record for the most games with a point. Panarin was named the Rangers MVP for 2023-24 and ranked among the NHL’s best in multiple categories.

FANTASTIC MR. FOX

Adam Fox has a 0.97 points-per-game rate in his playoff career, the second highest in franchise history among defensemen (Brian Leetch - 1.09). Despite playing in only 33 playoff games, his 32 playoff points (5G-27A) are tied with Barry Beck for the sixth most in franchise history among defensemen.

During the regular season, Fox set a career-high in 17 goals and posted 56 assists and 73 points. He scored the most goals by a Rangers defenseman since Brian Leetch in 2000-01 (21). Among NHL blueliners, he ranked tied for sixth in goals, sixth in points, and eighth in assists.

Prior to the game on Apr. 11, Fox was named the recipient of the third annual Rod Gilbert “Mr. Ranger” Award, given to the Rangers player “who best honors Rod’s legacy by exemplifying leadership qualities both on and off the ice, and making a significant humanitarian contribution to his community.”

PUCK STOPPING SHESTERKIN

Igor Shesterkin’s 16 playoff wins of his career are tied with John Davidson for the fifth most in team history. Shesterkin has allowed one goal in two of the first three games.

On the road in 2023-24, Shesterkin had a 17-8-2 record, ranking tied for the third most road wins in the NHL.

In the regular season, Shesterkin finished tied for third in wins (36), tied for fifth in save percentage (.913), and seventh in GAA (2.58). He posted his third consecutive 30-win season. Only two other goaltenders in franchise history have had three 30-win campaigns in their career: Henrik Lundqvist (11) and Ed Giacomin (5). He also finished 16-5-1 in his last 22 games of the year.

TROCHO CINCO

Vincent Trocheck has five points (2G-3A) in three games, tied with Mika Zibanejad for the team-lead in playoff points.

He is one of five players on New York’s current roster to have at least 10 career playoff goals, along with Chris Kreider (41), Artemi Panarin (17), Mika Zibanejad (16) and Blake Wheeler (10).

In 2023-24, Trocheck posted a career-high in assists (52) and points (77). On New York, he finished fifth in goals, third in assists and second in points.

With a 58.7 percent clip in the faceoff dot, Trocheck had the fourth highest percentage in the NHL among players who took 700 or more draws.

Trocheck was named this year’s winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, which is presented annually to the Ranger who, as chosen by the fans, “goes above and beyond the call of duty.”

LIVE, LAF, LOVE

Alexis Lafreniere has three assists in the first three games, including his third career playoff multi-point game in Game 2.

Lafreniere had a career high in goals (28), assists (29) and points (57) in 2023-24 and was one of five players on New York to play in all 82 games. On the Rangers, he ranked second in even strength goals (26) and third in even strength points (51).

When he scored a goal during the regular season, the Blueshirts were 21-1-1.

With 28 goals and 29 assists, was the first Rangers skater aged 22 or younger since Tony Amonte (1992-93) to have 25-plus goals and 25-plus assists in a single season.